Stevens County Historical Society & Museum

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Stevens County Historical Society & Museum

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11/30/2023

We all have them in our cupboards, filled and empty. It’s the Mason jar which is celebrating their beginnings 165 years ago today. A booklet observing the centennial of the Mason jar in 1958 reads, “It was 1810-forty-eight years before John Landis Mason (pictured here) patented his jar on November 30, 1858-that Nicolas Appert, a French confectioner, published his principles of food preparation through sterilization…The pioneer in food preservation had chosen glass because, he said, it was the packaging material most impervious to air.”
The booklet is a part of the collection at the Stevens County History Museum. The glass jar, with patent date, was found during the construction of the museum’s addition 17 years ago.
Visit your Stevens County History Museum Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

11/29/2023

Some of the oldest artifacts in the collection at the Stevens County History Museum are from the War Memorial Room.
The War Memorial Room was created following WWI. It was begun in 1919 as a project of the state and a local committee. This county was at an advantage as they had many records and artifacts before the drive to document our history began.
Among the items collected is this 1916 topographical relief map of the Verdun sector, in France, captured in a German officer’s dugout, far behind enemy lines. The map, it is said, has been authenticated as being one used by Crown Prince Wilhelm, of Prussia, who was the commander of the German 5th Army during the early days of the Verdun campaign. The battle lasted for 302 days and resulted in 377,231 French and 337,000 German casualties. One writer estimated 1,250,000 total casualties in the vicinity of Verdun.
There are five of these panels in the museum collection, donated by Arthur Woodman, who brought them home as a war trophy. He was a civil engineering graduate of Iowa State University. In 1911, Woodman joined the faculty of the West Central School of Agriculture. Woodman enlisted in the army in 1917 and served until 1919, when he returned to the WCSA. He also farmed in the county and was a land developer. In 1968, Woodman passed away at the age of 79.
The foresight in the design of the Stevens County Memorial Armory and War Memorial Room in 1921 preserved precious artifacts like this. The room was fireproofed with metal doors and tiled floor, opening off the first floor of the Morris Armory. This design saved the artifacts collection from a devastating fire in 1967 that destroyed the armory but the war room survived.

11/27/2023

It’s time for Christmas gift shopping and we got you covered. For those who love to cook, read about crime, love new clothes, like great coffee or just want to smell good. Check out our BOGO books for youth. Grab some mystery bags before you check out! See you soon!

11/24/2023

Small Business Saturday is tomorrow, and we hope you’ll visit your Main Street businesses this holiday season. One survey reported spending last year reached $103 billion dollars in that one day at independent retailers and restaurants.
American Express, a company with $37 billion in revenue, started Small Business Saturday in 2010.
The following year, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution in support of Small Business Saturday.
And speaking of gift giving, be sure to stop by the Stevens County History Museum to check out the selection of books, games, clothing, and more in our Gift Shop.
The Stevens County History Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

11/23/2023

We are thankful for all of you who support SCHS in any way. Have a wonderful day with family and friends. The museum is closed for Thanksgiving and will re-open next Tuesday at 9:00am.

11/22/2023

Although this ad ran over a century ago in the Morris Tribune, many of the reasons for thanks mentioned are still things we should be thankful for in 2023.
Vinje Clothing Co. began business in 1902 at 611 Atlantic Ave., in the location of what was Anderson Acres. In 1932, Vinje Clothing moved across the street to 632 Atlantic Ave., which is on the corner of Seventh Street. Vinje Clothing remained in business until 1942.
The Stevens County History Museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Friday. The Stevens County History Museum wishes everyone a blessed Thanksgiving and we will see you next week during our regular hours Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

11/17/2023

A Morris church's milestone celebration had to be delayed for a year.
The First Lutheran Church in Morris was founded in 1877. However, the church couldn’t celebrate their 50th anniversary because of the absence of a regular pastor. Rev. N.O. Peterson, of Clear Lake, IA. was installed as pastor on May 28, 1928. With the new pastor in place, they held their golden anniversary on November 4th, with Rev. H.C. Holm, of Eagle Grove, president of the Iowa church district, as the principal speaker.
The first pastor of First Lutheran Church was Rev. Magnus (or Marcus) Koeford who organized the Norwegian Evangelical Church, later renamed First Lutheran Church. At the time he was serving a charge near Starbuck.
The church’s present home was built in 1923 at a cost of $20,000. This photograph is from a pamphlet in the archives of the Stevens County History Museum

11/16/2023

Our student employee, Christian Diederich, is a UMM Cougar football player. As you may know, the Cougars are the UMACC Champions and moving on to the Division III National Tournament. They will take on the UW LaCrosse Eagles this Saturday. Good luck, Christian, and all of the Cougars!

11/15/2023

Did you know there is even a National Clarinet Day? It is observed on November 16th every year. The first clarinet is said to have been developed in the 1700s by German musician Johann Christoph Denner. It was made in the key of C. Clarinets today are usually made in the key of B flat.
This example, from the collection at the Stevens County History Museum, is an Albert system E flat clarinet made of rosewood with a hard rubber mouthpiece. It is a little smaller than the B flat.
This clarinet belonged to John Anderson, who played in Jaroslav Cimera's band in 1915. Anderson was later (1922) a teacher of music and botany at the West Central School of Agriculture in Morris. He is marked by the blue "V" over his head.
We invite you to tour the museum Tuesday through Friday from 9:00a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call the Stevens County History Museum at 320-589-1719.

11/13/2023

Last Thursday evening we had a marvelous time reliving rural school life with Betty Doherty and Della Conroy. We laughed, listened, watched Della paint, and even sang some old songs. Thank you to Betty and Della for being our guests. You can purchase a copy of the book, “In One Room”, in our museum Gift Shop.

11/10/2023

The Marine Corps Birthday is observed today. It was created on November 10, 1921 by the U.S. Government to show appreciation for the United States Marines.
In 1775, just eight months shy of the Declaration of Independence, a new corps was formed following the introduction of the Continental Marine Act. At the time, an official plan was developed by the Continental Congress to oversee a mission intercepting ammunition cargo from Britain, using Marines.
The jacket shown here belonged to Staff Sergeant Edward D. Hockert, who was killed in action in Germany on Dec. 5, 1944. Hockert was born in St. Cloud, MN on Feb. 5, 1908. He came to Morris in 1920. Hockert was a veteran of 11 years enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1929 and re-enlisted again in 1933 for a four-year term. Three months after the United States became embroiled in WWII, he entered the U.S. Army.
This jacket is part of a large collection of military uniforms at the Stevens County History Museum. We are open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

11/08/2023

We love when grandparents bring their grand kiddos in to experience the museum. ☺️

Address

116 W 6th Street
Morris, MN
56267

Telephone

(320) 589-1719

Website

http://www.stevenshistorymuseum.com/

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